Quotes from Melissa McCarthy

I feel intensely guilty for working... You have to be able to provide for your kids. But I feel like it's a weird modern phenomenon that you always feel guilty for it.

When I was 22, I met with some janky manager, and she told me, 'You're never going to work at this weight.' I think I was a size 6 at the time. There is just this weird thing about how we perceive women in this country. I would love to be a part of breaking that down.

I would love to be directed by more women.

When I go shopping, most of the time I'm disappointed.

As a teenager I went all Goth, but I wasn't mopey enough. I would pretend to be, but I'd end up making people laugh.

I love a house project.

I did not actually run down a deer for 'Tammy,' I promise.

Some days, I want to be prim and proper, and others, I want to be in a band.

When someone really believes in what they're saying, but it's crazy, it's, like, my favorite thing on earth.

I wanted to be a drag queen so badly. I'll bet I still own more wigs than any drag queen - I love me a wig.

I just think that wigs and makeup and costumes completely transform me.

In terms of the characters I think are really fun to play, a lot of times it's someone in my head saying 'I know that woman.'

I was never sullen. I was a terrible punk - I was still so chatty.

It's like I'm managing to achieve all this success in spite of my affliction ... Would you ever put that in the headline for a male star?

I've never felt like I needed to change. I've always thought, 'If you want somebody different, pick somebody else.' But sure, criticism can sometimes still get to me. Some things are so malicious, they knock the wind out of you.

Part of being young is you think gaining 6 lbs. is the end of the world.

My parents are kind and accepting. Because so many of my friends were gay, it was just an accepted thing in my house. I was very lucky.

In my 20s, I used to cry about why I wasn't thinner or prettier, but I want to add that I also used to cry about things like, 'I wish my hair would grow faster. I wish I had different shoes...' I was an idiot... It's a decade of tears.

Sometimes I wish I were just magically a size 6 and I never had to give it a single thought.

I'm really happy in my life.

Since grade school, I focused on women's clothing.

To me, having 500 rolls of fabric around is the most calming thing in the world. I think it's what football is to some guys.

I just think we tear down women in this country for all these superficial reasons, and women are so great and strong.

I've never been interested in playing the boring ingenue. I always wonder: Who's her weird friend? I like the oddballs.